Freedom of movement: 2nd Cavalry Regiment crosses Hungarian, Romanian border

By Spc. Caitlyn Byrne, 10th Press Camp HeadquartersOctober 26, 2015

2nd Cavalry Regiment crosses Hungarian, Romanian border
1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers of 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment crossed the border between Hungary and Varsand, Romania, while Romanian border patrol officers guide them in, Oct. 24, 2015, as part of Exercise Dragoon River Crossing. The convoy is comprised of over 36... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
2nd Cavalry Regiment crosses Hungarian, Romanian border
2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers of 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment pass through the gates of the Arad Army Base, Arad, Romania, Oct. 24, 2015 as part of Exercise Dragoon River Crossing. The convoy is comprised of over 36 Stryker military vehicles, with 141 Soldiers from... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
2nd Cavalry Regiment crosses Hungarian, Romanian border
3 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers of 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment pass through Varsand, Romania, while Romanian citizens watch and wave, Oct. 24, 2015, as part of Exercise Dragoon River Crossing. The convoy is comprised of over 36 Stryker military vehicles, with 141 So... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
2nd Cavalry Regiment crosses Hungarian, Romanian border
4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers of 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment crossed the border between Hungary and Varsand, Romania, while Romanian border patrol officers guide them in, Oct. 24, 2015, as part of Exercise Dragoon River Crossing. The convoy is comprised of over 36... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
2nd Cavalry Regiment crosses Hungarian, Romanian border
5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers of 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment crossed the border between Hungary and Varsand, Romania, Oct. 24, 2015, as part of Exercise Dragoon River Crossing. The convoy is comprised of over 36 Stryker military vehicles, with 141 Soldiers from 4t... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

VARSAND, Romania -- The stretch of green fields and farmland surrounding the Romanian border gave stark contrast to the convoy of Stryker military vehicles that rolled down the road from Hungary. Under a clear blue sky, soldiers of the 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment crossed the border between Hungary and Varsand, Romania, Oct. 24, 2015, as part of Exercise Dragoon River Crossing.

"The convoy is comprised of over 36 Stryker military vehicles, with 141 Soldiers from 4-2 Cavalry Regiment," said Capt. Passewitz, native of Youngstown, Ohio, and team leader for 80-23 Civil Affairs Team.

Passewitz described the over-six-week-long convoy that the soldiers of 4th Squadron have been making, starting from Vilseck, Germany and continuing through over four different countries of Allied nations.

Exercise Dragoon Crossing is in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, a multinational combined arms exercise, which takes place across Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania to enhance multinational interoperability, to strengthen relationships among allied militaries, to contribute to regional stability, and to demonstrate U.S. commitment to NATO.

"After spending the night in Hungary, we [crossed] the border and then linked up with our Romanian allies," said Capt. Patrick Passewitz, "We will spend the next few days celebrating the Romanian Armed Forces day as well as demonstrating our interoperability during the upcoming river crossing."

Passewitz explained the significance of being able to cross Allied borders, fluidly, stating, "It is a key highlight to show everyone across NATO how we can reassure our allies and how we have such freedom of movement in theater; overall it's a good day to spend with our allied partners."

The ability to have such freedom of movement and trust between the U.S. and its Allies is an invaluable asset to interoperability; a concept that Lieutenant Col. Jonathan Due, native of Houston, Texas and squadron commander for 4th Squadron wanted to highlight.

"Developing that mutual effectiveness between tactical units really defines interoperability," said Due. "It comes down to relationships, it comes down to having that shared understanding and common visualization… It allows us to plan, with a very sharp level of detail to use allied capabilities, river crossing capabilities that our units do not possess."

Soldiers are not only establishing positive relationships with numerous Allied countries, they are also doors to learning opportunities for the junior leadership of all countries involved.

"What Dragoon Crossing has really offered for both my unit and the units we have been able to work with is unmatched opportunities for leader development, where junior leaders to be able to take advantage of the opportunity to work with our counterparts in our allied nations," Due said.

The positive results of exercises such as Exercise Dragoon River Crossing are innumerable and are reflected in the growth and development of not only leaders but junior Soldiers as well.

Pvt. Gene Lee, native of Alpharetta, Georgia and cavalry scout for 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Reg., was grateful for the chance to be a part of Exercise Dragoon River Crossing and accompany his unit in the convoy.

"Getting to travel to Hungary and Romania and getting to see different countries and experience different cultures has been an amazing experience for me," said Lee. "Since we left from Germany it's really broadened my perspective on a lot of things."

A long journey on a convoy, crossing the borders of over four different countries can inspire anyone, especially a young soldier.

Lee commented that his time on the convoy has brought him closer to the other soldiers in his unit and it has opened his eyes to many different parts of the world. Lee stated, "as we were coming down from Germany, we would see citizens lining the streets and they would wave and smile at us and it gave me hope that we are actually doing something good."

Related Links:

2nd Cavalry Regiment

U.S. Army Europe

Operation Atlantic Resolve